== BABA STORY: OFFERING MANGOES ==
Namaskar,
It was the usual course that our Acaryaji would go to attend the DMC those
days. Then one time a margii sister requested Acaryaji that he should take
some mangoes grown in her garden and offer them in presentation to Baba.
And this is the story about that and what we should offer to Baba.
For many years prior to '90 whenever this margii sister would go for Baba's
darshan then she would always offer fruit for Baba at His Baba's Quarters
(BQ). Thus from her garden in the summer season she was offering mangoes
and in the winter season she used to offer Guava for the Baba Quarter's
caretaker to pass to Baba. And in her simplicity she was thinking that this
was the only way to offer something at the lotus feet of Baba.
So this time when Acaryaji was going to Ananda Nagar then she raised the
matter again. Because due to her own ill health she was unable to go so she
was requesting Acaryaji to make the offering of fruit for her.
After some deliberation back and forth, then Acaryaji said, 'Alright I will
take it but you should know that offering to Parama Purusa every day is
good for devotional feeling. So today I am going there so I will bring it
for you. But what about tomorrow, then what you will do'.
SPECIAL APPROACH FROM ACARYA DIARY
Acaryaji continued, 'Surely what you want to offer that you offer and on
this particular occasion, I will take that. But in His physical absence
because He is at a distance in which case you cannot make your offering
directly to Him because of natural limitations. Then best is to be aware about
these following guidelines from Acarya Diary.
While teaching about system of Guru Puja in Acarya diary appendix, Baba has
described that if devotees have a strong feeling to offer some worldly
things to Guru, they can do so. So sadhakas could give those things to Guru
during His physical Presence. But Baba directs us that when He is moving
here and there or if after His physical departure then those material
things which we desire to offer to Him, that should be distributed to needy
people-- to that portion of the suffering humanity. And by that way He
(Baba )will receive that.
Baba explains all this very clearly in the Acarya Diary.
ANOTHER WAY OF DOING
At the same time Acaryaji said that we should not just do external
offerings to satisfy or please Baba. Because Baba is the Creator of the
entire universe He does not need those things, per se. He is living in your
heart, not in Ananda Nagar only etc. Acaryaji said that devotees should
offer something more special-- not just worldly fruits, vegetables and
sweets. This all is not needed.
Baba says, "Remember, you have to offer your own mind -- not money, rice
plantains or other crude objects. The give-and-take of crude things is a
business transaction. If you want to attain the bliss of Brahma , you must
offer your own self. If you want to have the Great 'I', you must
surrender your own little 'I'. You have to give the full sixteen a'nna's,
(the full rupee). Giving fifteen a'nna's and holding back one a'nna' will
not do. You must completely surrender. To attain that Infinite One with
the help of your mental concentration and strength, you have to surrender
yourself." (SS Part 3, p.69)
After listening this Baba's teaching the margii became convinced to some
degree and she asked if there was anything more on this topic.
IDEATION IS THE MAIN THING
Acaryaji also told that in one Acarya meeting Baba has given one special
explanation. Baba was telling how one Dada had brought Him a gift or
offering and then Baba Himself brought that very item out from His pocket.
Then Baba explained that material things have two values. Economic value,
but Baba quickly added that no matter how much economic worth it has, that
does not have any value in the realm of spirituality-- in devotional
sphere. So only one value counts-- and that is with how much love and
affection was that material offering made. I.e. What was the ideation
behind that offering. So if someone offers something physical then the
quantum of love associated with that offering is the main thing.
Here is another way of explanation.
If the item offered however is 100 US dollars but the feeling is negligible
or nil-- since the offering was made for show only-- or for name and fame
only-- then in that case then without any proper ideation, that offering is
zero.
And the other side is that if one devotee did not bring anything and did
not give anything physically to Baba, but with deep feeling in the heart he
is offering something mentally. Then with the feeling alone that has full
value.
So if a material offering is made without any ideation then that has zero
value. And if a physical offering is made and side by side proper ideation
and heartfelt feeling is also there, then only the quantum of feeling is
the aspect that has value. The money or that cost of the material has no
value.
And if a person is offering something inexpensive but if the heart-feeling
is there then that is everything. So the extent to which the heart-feeling
is present that counts.
Thus suppose someone has offered an item that costs Rs100, but without any
feeling. And if another youth could only offer 1 penny's worth but he has
deep feeling for Baba. Then that ideation is significant. And if another
person is there who does not offer any physical thing but rather with deep
feeling he mentally thinks that, 'Baba I am just offering this with all my
loving expression in the mind'. In that case then and there Parama Purusa
will accept one's offering.
That is the teaching Baba has given in that very acarya meeting.
SURRENDERING TO GURU
Acaryaji furthermore described that to surrender oneself, Baba has taught a
beautiful system that each and every Ananda Margii practices every day. At
the time of doing sadhana when on finishes then the last part is Guru Puja.
And there lies the secret technique of self-surrender.
Baba says, "In A'nanda Ma'rga Sadhana, the method of withdrawing the mind
from degrading tendencies, and absorbing oneself in the colour of the
Great, is called Pratya'ha'ra Yoga (the yoga of withdrawal) or
Varn'a'rghyada'na (the offering of colours). All people have a particular
attraction for one or another object or activity and as soon as they become
attracted to an object, then their minds become coloured with the colour of
that object. You can withdraw your mind from the colour of that object and
dye yourself in His colour by offering Him the captivating colour of the
object that has attracted you: this is the real Pratya'ha'ra Yoga. The
word Pratya'ha'ra means 'to withdraw -- to withdraw the mind from its
object...When this practice of offering your own colours -- your own
attachments, becomes natural and easy, you will then merge in Him." (SS
Part 3, p. 68)
Hearing this all felt very inspired.
Otherwise, some were thinking surrender was just doing sastaunga pranam and
others were thinking that remembering Him is surrender. So this was a new
point-- that surrender means offering all the attractions and colors of the
mind at His lotus feet, through the process of Guru Puja.
And overall, the margii got convinced and she told that alright this time
you are going so take away. And when I will like-- if there is longing
feeling and calling in my mind-- if nobody is there. Then surely I will do
what you are telling. That gives more scope of for making an offering unto
the lotus feet of Baba.
Here following is His divine blessing.
Baba says, "Move along the Path of Righteousness with the spirit of
Universal Fraternity, victory is yours. The blessing of Parama Purus'a is
always with you. [Athens, 11.9.79]
at His lotus feet
Satyendra
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Simple Morality Invites Danger
Baba says, "Now, Karna possessed simple morality, which was static whereas
the Pandavas were armed with spiritual morality. Lord Krsna thought it
proper to extend support to spiritual morality, so He went to Karna in the
guise of a Brahmin and begged for alms. Karna asked him, "What do you
want-- any material thing like money, clothes, etc. ?" Krsna said, "No, I
don't need all those things ". Thus whatever Karna offered to Krsna, He
persistently refused to accept. Finally Krsna said, "I'm leaving. If you
can't give me anything of my choice, I will leave." Karna said, "You have
come to me for alms, and it's not proper that I shouldn't give you
something and you return disappointed. It can't happen as long as I am
alive." This is what simple morality teaches human beings."
"Then Karna finally wanted to know of Krsna what he really wanted. Krsna
said, "I want only your earrings, nothing else." Now had Karna been a
follower of spiritual morality, he would have said, "Look, sir, I am to
join the war in the immediate future. I can't part with my ear-rings now.
Without these earrings my defeat will be inevitable. I may even die. Hence
I can't part with my earrings now. I will certainly give you the earrings,
but later, not now." Instead of saying all these things, Karna agreed to
give away his earrings, and did quickly give the earrings to Krsna. This is
how he hastened his death." (MHB, p.61-2)
Note: Here we should remember that Lord Krsna reached reached to Karna not
as Lord Krsna but disguised as a brahmin beggar.
Baba says, "He [Lord Krsna] went to Karna in the guise of a Brahmin and
begged for alms."
So this fact should not be overlooked because it was not that Karna was
ready and willing to offer everything to Parama Purusa. It was not like
that. Because in the above described scene Lord Krsna was presenting
Himself as one needy beggar. So the play was between one poor beggar and
King Karna. After all, it was diplomacy or a diplomatic play. Keeping this
perspective, in that way the whole scene should be viewed for clearer
understanding. That is why Baba is telling that Karna did wrong.
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